Tag Archives: mercy

The thought of patience is foreign to me. I have a short fuse, easily enraged by obstacles that get in my way, slow me down or become a burden to me in any manner. So when I read the Bible, the command to love, be patient and kind seems impossible to achieve. The idea of forgiving and loving enemies is hard to comprehend. Nonetheless, when religious leaders and the people who followed Jesus turned on him, shouting for death by crucifixion, this Man practiced what He preached. Moments from death, Jesus cried out to his heavenly father, “forgive them for they know not what they do.” I don’t know how He did this?

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

The context of the passage above shines light on the nature of God. Anyone can talk a good game, pretend to be good person or use money to influence the general public. However, if you don’t display love, all of your gifts and talents are meaningless. The apostle Paul uses the analogy of a clanging symbol to prove his point. You may be an amazing musician, but without love you are nothing. Perhaps, people inside of church at Corinth were forgetting the purpose of being a Christian, becoming Christ like is all aspects of life. Essentially, Paul was trying to prove a point, this is not how you do it.

Let all that you do be done in love, 1 Corinthians 16:14.

Today, many believers fail miserably, unable to love, display patience or be kind. Part of this failure is due to a departure of complete trust in God. Rather, the temptation to be self-reliant has trumped faith. Instead of undergoing a subtle spiritual transformation, the world is winning, with compromise after compromise. If the apostle Paul struggled to defeat temptation, Romans 7:14-18, everyone will face a similar fate. In the meantime, yield to God, surrendering control of your life. When you do, the mercy God displayed for you can flow outwardly toward others. While I still don’t know how Jesus loved the unlovable, let all that you do be inspired by love.

As an adult, you can learn from previous mistakes. Depending upon the degree of your past transgressions, the healing process varies. Those who succumb to addiction at some point in life will have a much tougher road to recovery than individuals who just flirted with temptation. In the end, you can run, but you can’t hide from your past.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9.

The disciple whom Jesus loved makes an interesting observation in the verse above. Your degree of faith is based upon your level of sincerity. Those who open up about dark periods of their past are considered genuine. Yet, many remain silent, afraid that previous lapses in judgments will cause others to abandon current relationships.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working, James 5:16.

Since recent allegations made by women against Alabama Senate candidate Judge Roy Moore, the media is assuming that these accusations are true. I don’t know Judge Moore nor can I speak on his behalf. Nonetheless, I know that everyone has secret scars. These imperfections are symbolic of periods in life that you are ashamed of, hoping no one finds out. Yet, James the earthly brother of Jesus urges individuals to come forward by acknowledging any unconfessed sin.

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy, Proverbs 28:13.

Whether you are talking about a public figure, Hollywood star or yourself, the Bible applies to everyone. According to Solomon, one of the wisest individuals to walk the face of the earth, mercy is dependent upon confession. Jesus reinforces this concept at the end of the Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6:14-15. Therefore, if you want to escape the demons of your past, confess any deeds of darkness so that grace, healing and mercy will be found.

Despite how perfect some individuals may act, behave and live out on a daily basis, everyone possesses imperfections. These blemishes often result in a dark side with secret addictions, bad habits or unthinkable acts that would shock the average person. This collection of scars accumulate into skeletons of your past.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us, 1 John 1:8-10.

There was a time in American history where honesty was the best policy. However, sometimes revealing a skeleton or two from your past can do permanent damage. Recently. Pete Rose admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with a minor back in the 1970’s. This confession sent shockwaves across the country, igniting outrage throughout social media. Based upon the comments posted, it’s as if this was the worst act ever committed.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh, Galatians 5:16.

The second aspect of confession is taking the steps toward the road to recovery. Perhaps, this may explain the criticism of Rose over his lack of contrition for his previous transgressions. Thus, if you want to experience healing from the skeletons of your past, you must learn to walk according to the Holy Spirit. Based upon the apostle Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 10:13, God will provide a way out when temptations arrive. In your journey toward healing, may the Lord guide you out of bondage to find freedom in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

There were a series of events which took placed before Jesus began his earthly ministry. Since the prophets of the Old Testament wrote about these specific details, Jesus waited patiently until this day arrived. Following his baptism, John’s imprisonment and move to the Land of Zebulun and Naphtali, everything was set for Jesus to put God’s plan into action.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” Matthew 4:17.

According to the verse above, Jesus’ message was clear, repent for the kingdom of God is near. To avoid over kill, Matthew writes this statement once as a simple reminder, from that time on. Whether Jesus was addressing a large crowd, a small group or speaking one on one, repentance played a crucial role. This term refers to turning 180 degrees away from addiction, bad habits and unwholesome desires toward the grace and mercy of God.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost, Luke 19:10

During a public conversation heard by several eyewitnesses, Jesus makes a remarkable admission. Prior to meeting with a repentant tax collector, Jesus reveals his purpose for coming down to earth. The statement above refers to seeking and saving that which Adam lost in the Garden of Eden. This is two fold: the authority stolen by Satan and intimacy which Adam and Eve shared with God, walking and talking together day. If you ever lose your way, don’t forget Jesus’ simply message: repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.

Frederick Douglass is a key figure featured every February during Black History month. After escaping slavery in Maryland, Douglass completed his autobiography in 1845. If you attended a public school, you probably never heard about this man’s great faith. While talking to a friend earlier in the week, I was amazed to hear about his concept of prayer. This made me wonder, what am I actually praying for?

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word, Psalm 119:9.

Instead of praying for the obvious, God’s blessings on your family, friends and work, Douglass narrowed in on a few simple things. First, as a slave, Frederick prayed that his master would not beat him. From here, Frederick fervently asked the Lord to have mercy on him so that his service would please his master. Within his autobiography, Douglass comments on how his master’s treated him. Oddly enough, those who claimed to be Christians treated him the worse.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well, Matthew 6:33.

Following this conversation, I was convicted, wondering how cruel I have treated others in this life. Beyond the bubble that I live in, my actions are far from the grace, love and mercy Jesus demonstrated on earth. Instead of treating prayer like some kind of Christmas wish list, perhaps it’s time to go back to the basics. Whether this means using the Lord’s Prayer as a guide or quoting parts of Psalm 119, something has to change. May this blog inspire you to put into practice Jesus’ words above, starting prayer by seeking God’s kingdom and righteous first.

There are periods in life which seem innocent at first. Initial symptoms are brushed aside as merely a byproduct of age. Yet, if you continue to ignore the obvious, sooner or later conditions will become far worse than you ever imagined.

If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled, Job 31:7.

Fifteen years ago my eyes began to hurt trying to work full time while attempting to complete my masters. The amount of reading was too much strain on my eyes resulting in arthritis of the eye. In the years that have followed, some of my goals were never fulfilled due to this condition. Now I am just thankful for the ability to see.

“If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,” Job 31:16.

What is most troubling to me is my current spiritual condition. Due to a lack of accountability and a consistent church home, may faith has decayed. The other night a wave of conviction revealed to me how far I have wandered off course. The passages above serve as a standard to see if your faith is in action or dead. Sometimes the truth hurts, far worse than I first thought. When days of conviction come, may the Lord’s grace and mercy fall on those confess their sins.

Every year panic triggers some sort of horrific event. Whether its at a concert, escaping a fire or fleeing a terrorist attack, fear often leads to individuals to trample upon anyone who gets in the way. In 2008, a Walmart employee from Long Island, New York died after wild shoppers on Black Friday began running to claim limited specials once the doors were opened.

But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd, Acts 17:5.

Unfortunately, there is more than one way to be trampled. Anyone who uses social media can be verbally run over following a post that offends and upsets followers. Several teenagers have committed suicide in the past 5 years shortly after being bullied, embarrassed or harassed by their peers. While some of the content posted was self-inflicted, a spirit of gossip is encouraging many to pile on with one sarcastic comment after the other.

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends, Proverbs 16:28.

I hope that some day soon the citizens of America will come to their senses. Sure, I like a good laugh, but it appears the line between right and wrong has shrunk. Subsequently, innocent people are being trampled and discarded without any remorse or sorrow. Trashing anyone who disagrees with your worldview is not the answer. Instead, may God have mercy on us, extend grace to the hurting and save this divided nation from further trampling.